Whoops! This is an overdue review from December. Xela Pan Cafe is a Guatemalan restaurant/bakery/convenience store on Buford Hwy in Doraville. Just a quick warning that, depending on which employee helps customers, there may be a slight issue with their understanding of English. They absolutely speak and understand Spanish. Xela Pan Cafe is in a small strip mall that is next to the strip mall where Kung Fu Tea is located. There is limited parking in front of the storefronts. This small business is made up of a restaurant, a bakery and a convenience store all run by the same employees. The convenience store sells a lot of seemingly random items, just about all in glass display cases. I noticed a lot of things to help with digestion and upset stomach, and hoped that this wasn't an indication of their food (Thankfully, it turned out that it wasn't!). The bakery items were in a separate area of display cases, but customers are free to self-serve themselves by using a tray to place whatever they choose, using either tongs or disposable gloves (I can't remember which they use) to take the items out of the cases. R and I came here for breakfast on a Sunday morning just before 9 am. There is an order counter, but that's for customers who are ordering items to go. Once the employees found out that we were going to eat breakfast inside the restaurant, we were told to seat ourselves and an employee would be by soon with menus. The restaurant area contains mostly booths, with some tables and chairs in an area between the order counter, convenience store and bakery areas. A very helpful and knowledgeable server came by our table, bringing a couple of glasses of water and menus. For a small restaurant, there were many items on the menu. We both ordered the scrambled eggs, rice, black beans, plantains and cheese. We didn't wait very long, in spite of other customers lined up at the counter to order takeout meals. The scrambled eggs with tomato and onion in them tasted a little bland, but I dressed it up with some bottled red hot sauce that was on the table. The plain tasting white rice, which had peas, carrots and corn in it, was pressed into a heart shape. The black beans in its watery sauce were very good. The plantains were cooked to a perfect firmness, and had a perfectly matching natural sweetness to them. The small block of slightly salty cheese also had a nice firmness to it. The price for each meal was very reasonable. Overall, this was a good dining experience. read more

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This is probably the best Guatemalan food inside the perimeter of Atlanta. When you walk in, they have a lot of typical Guatemalan things hanging up, and the menu has many of the typical dishes you would find in Guatemala. There are certain things they make better than others. For instance, the chuchitos are pretty good! The Pepian that I ordered didn't really taste like Pepian, but more like a guisado. It was still pretty good, it just wasn't Pepian haha ! They have traditional drinks and they even have pan francés! The Guatemalan snacks they have are very convenient when you have antojos! I would say the service is pretty friendly and the ambiance is pretty authentic! We have been here several times and will definitely return! read more

I wanted to love this place but it fell short. Thought I would find a decent breakfast for a decent price. While the prices on the menu said $12.99 for the breakfast and $3.99 for a juice, the actual prices are $18.00 for the breakfast and $7.00 for the juice. When I inquired, she tried to feed me some story about "taxes". Very disappointing, felt like a low key scam to just get more money. Not coming back. read more

Quaint family-run hole in the wall on Buford Highway. At first glance, the menu appears extensive and may cause one to wonder if quantity=quality. In this case, it does. The tacos and tamales were amazing (or so I was told as I didn't have any due to a food allergy). My fried fish dish was delish. Came as a whole fish wish rice, beans, and lettuce/tomato. The workers didn't speak English nor did they understand my Spanglish...which I don't think is that poor as I grew up in California. However, pointing did the trick. You must eat here. read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Fried fish dish! Not too salty! - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Buen lugar para desayunar y comer tamales :) The service was very nice. Friendly waitstaff. Their orange juice is delicious and fresh. Their breakfast plate was good, but the star was the rice tamal. The empanada was delish too. Will come back to try their other tamales and fish. . read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Tamal capuchino and juice - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Breakfast was delicious. I got the basic no meat breakfast meal and it came with beans , cheese , plantains , fresh tortillas, eggs. The tortillas were amazing. The staff was friendly. The music was fun. There was a nice patio set up outside to eat at in addition to the indoor seats. read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Breakfast meal - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Un asco de comida en realidad! Haorrese el tiempo y dinero! La comida no tiene sabor, y está todo grasoso.

I used to be a Pan Xela, but nobody buys pans anymore, so now I just review restaurants. This is Guatemalan food done right. It's not the cheapest, but it's the yummest. Delicious five star place to eat in the heart of Chinatown Atlanta up in the Doraville Buford Highway Chamblee area. There's plenty of Latin food in amongst this area of Chinatown and this is one of the best. Prices aren't dirt cheap, but neither is your sister (unlike your madre). Garnachas, and all of their other standard Guatemalan dishes are amazing - as is the truly lovely service. Their Tamales are Central American style, soft and wet and juicy, greasy and perfect, because they're wrapped in banana leaves - unlike the chalky kinds that are wrapped in corn husks and better known, and more often sold, at other places. Now there's no need to be Xelous... just come here and try it for yourself. read more

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As a preface, I have to say that I'm not the target audience for what they offer at this place. My Spanish is minimal, and what this place really offers, I think, is a taste of home for relatively recent transplants. With that said, I was pretty unimpressed with everything I had. In particular, I thought the bread would be good. I got a sweet bun of some kind, and it was rather stale. I also tried the "blackberry juice," which was definitely not fresh at all, more of a punch than juice. Finally, I ordered the breakfast, which was over medium eggs (they're typically doing scrambled), black bean soup, rice, and a few plantains. The breakfast was fine, but ultimately unremarkable. I had a coconut juice as backup for the blackberry, since I was familiar with the brand, and knew what to expect. I didn't make it more than 30% of the way through the blackberry. I ate most of the breakfast. The bread was the biggest disappointment. read more

Food is great, my grandma would love this place. authentic recipes from Guatemala. They have chuchitos and delicious tamales.

Glad I took the advice of a Guatemalan friend to try this little restaurant. We will return !! Food: 4/5. Very good food. Parts of the menu are translated to English, but you can just point to a photo of what you want if the server does not speak English. We were very pleased that this South American/Central American based menu offered many dishes that did not rely strongly on hot spices or peppers, like many cafes do. The meat and vegetable ingredients were full of flavor. The appetizers were good -the Guatamalan tacos had yummy, pulled pork, bbq meat and were served on small handmade corn meal discs. The beef dishes were sooo good! The marinade gives the grilled meat so much flavor. Entrees are served with savory black beans and rice, as well as an unusual slaw. This the BEST slaw ever! -full of cilantro flavor and a perfect side for the meal! Drink choices are limited. Service 3/5. Location 3/5 Located right on a very busy street. The restaurant is small, only a few tables and booths. There are pastries for sale, too. Parking 1/5. You may have difficulty parking right by the small unassuming restaurant, but don't let that discourage you. Park nearby and walk back to the restaurant. There is a large parking lot by the strip mall across the busy highway- but be sure to cross safely at the red light. Price 3/5. Reasonably priced and similar to other South American/Central American restaurants in the area. read more

High yield: This is a Guatemalan bakery, cafe, small bite, restaurant on Buford highway. It is super assuming but tucked right next to Kung fu Tea and right by Song Kong Dong Restaurants. The place has groceries (milk? Juices?), breads (large fluffy almost toy like desserts), entrees, drinks, small bites, and drinks. We ordered a fried plantains with fresco and a steak taco for a small bite. We saw other people's dishes and sampled some, and everything was delicious! I couldn't speak Spanish, but my sister did, and the staff was friendly and warm. The interior is a soccer fan's dream- jerseys, scarves, TV, etc all creating a festive and fun atmosphere while you eat. It is popular among the lunch crowd, locals, and those who like hole int the wall gems. Plaintain w/ Fresca I love that the plantains were not overly fried and oily. Most times, the plaintain tastes like bananas that are oily, mushy, and greasy, but here, they plaintains actually maintain the mealy taste of a potato and sweetness of a banana and was more dry than the typical greasy sticky banana. I recommend this dish if you want a small snack but samples the sweet, savory, and mealy. It came with a block of queso fresco that was not too salty, or rubbery, or crumbly. It was prime queso. It also came with black beans that tasted like it was cooked in at least salt or maybe pork stock. The whole dish was great- this dish was only 3.50$ I got the steak taco and i loved that it was a generous filing. Beef was border between ground beef and asada large pieces but you still know it was steak just chopped into smaller pieces. Flavorful with sprinkles of cilantro over it makes this a super nice flavorful dish. My taco shell could barely hold onto the filling inside! Tacos only 2$! I can tell you the other tacos are excellent. There were other awesome looking authentic dishes that came with a whole side of a half avocado! How badass is that!! I've never seen a dish come with a whole half avocado before! I saw also dishes with whole fried fish, rice, lettuce, and tomatoes. Looks super good! read more

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Food was great, but service is slow. Other customers were getting their food before us and we ordered before them. read more

Xela Pan is a Guatemalan restaurant, cafe, and bakery that opened around January 2015 in the old Milano Bakery & Cafe space on Buford Highway. It's across the street from Pinetree Plaza in the small strip next to Kung Fu Tea. I was sad to see Milano and its popular bibimbap and bulgogi burgers go. However, things reportedly went downhill with Milano in late 2014 after a change in ownership. I've been to Xela Pan a couple times now and believe this unique Guatemalan business is a worthy successor. The food, drink, and service I've experienced have been very good! "Xela" is the indigenous name for Quetzaltenango, the second largest city in Guatemala. "Pan" refers to panaderia (bakery). Sentences on their business card translate as, "With the food of Quetzaltenango and Guatemala." Xela Pan is open from 6am to 9pm everyday. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have coffee drinks, several made-to-order fruit juices and smoothies, fresh breads baked daily, and arroz con leche (rice pudding, with chocolate too); tamales, paches, and chuchitos; chile rellenos, estofado (which is like a pot roast or beef stew), ceviche, tacos, empanadas, and quesadillas; breakfast/lunch plates with eggs, beans, cream, cheese, plantains, tortillas, and rice; and entrees featuring meats and seafood such as pollo (chicken), churrasco (grilled skirt steak), mojarra frita (whole fried Mexican tilapia), and camarones (shrimp). Everything is affordably priced, especially the breads and breakfast items. For example, tamales/paches are only $2.50 each, chuchitos $1.75 each, and breads only $1 each. Juices and smoothies, which I believe come in one size only, are $2.99 each. As far as food and drink preparation goes, there's a mix of everything. There are self-serve display cabinets stocked with trays of various Guatemalan breads and pastries. It looks and smells great. On the bottom shelf of these cabinets are baskets lined with parchment paper and metal tongs. Place the breads you want in a tray and take them to the counter to pay. I've seen customers come in and pile tons of bread onto a tray to purchase and take home. The breads I've tried have been quite delicious. Most of the breads are large buns with little to no toppings. The recipes seem rather simple. The breads are soft, floury, subtly moist, and mildly sweet. There's a small hot bar where premade items such as tamales, paches, and chuchitos are stored (the latter two I believe are unique to Guatemalan cuisine). You'll have to order these and a server will plate or package them for you. As I understand it, paches are like tamales but are made with potatoes. Chuchitos are similar to tamales, but instead of being wrapped in a banana leaf, they're wrapped in corn husks. Tamales are steamed in corn husks, but the husks are removed prior to serving. Chuchitos are made with corn. The tamales are made with rice. I've tried the tamales, paches, and chuchitos and they are fantastic. The tamales are perhaps the best I've had in Atlanta. They all come with tender, bone-in, dark meat chicken (wing), mild red chili peppers, and a savory sauce/paste. The masa (maize dough) is succulent and mouthwatering. They probably have other varieties too, but those were the ones I tried. They were pretty much perfect to me in terms of temperature, taste (gratifying), and consistency (appetizing). I highly recommend them. The desayuno chapin (breakfast plate) is terrific as well. The breakfast plate comes with eggs (any way you want them), rice, beans, cheese, plantains, and warm corn tortillas. If you like soup, order their chicken soup! The soup is an off-menu item containing thick, hearty chunks of bone-in chicken, potato, and various fresh vegetables with sides of Guatemalan rice, lime, and chopped jalapeno. The soup is colorful, hot, savory, and comforting. There are self-serve coffee dispensers at the counter for regular cups of joe. One thing I like about this place is unlike most other Hispanic restaurants, if you order horchata or jugo (juice), your drink is individually made to order. Other restaurants have machines constantly mixing the drinks (which is fine). At Xela Pan, the employees personally blend each beverage order. I've tried the horchata and mango, passion fruit, and soursop (guanabana) juices. They're terrific. The horchata is sweet, smooth, and not chalky. The juices are also sweet and quite refreshing. The servers are friendly. Evelyn is the best! Xela Pan is small and has a casual atmosphere. I wouldn't consider this a full service restaurant even though they can take orders at your table. I guesstimate total interior seating capacity is about 30 at a combination of tables and small booths. No outdoor seating. If you ever came here when it was Milano, not a whole lot has changed about the space structurally. There's a TV now (often playing futbol) and Guatemalan decor (e.g. the Guatemalan flag) as opposed to Milano's whimsical European environment. read more

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$2.50 tacos were excellent, especially the chorizo. Crispy, flaky, but not greasy. The corn tortillas were perfectly made, smooth and not grainy. Made from scratch perhaps? The chicken taco was just okay. My friend's pechuga empanizada was tasty, really clean texture and mild flavor; good portions. Like prior reviewers noted, service staff are at two extremes when it comes to English - either completely fluent or have no clue what you're saying. My friend asked the first woman we spoke to what her favorite item was on the menu - she pointed to the breakfast. While it's possible that's true, the uncertainty I saw on her face reminded me of myself in high school Spanish class. Definitely coming back... maybe even to try the breakfast. read more

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4 Stars for a simple, but pretty excellent Guatemalan breakfast! Stopped by for a quick breakfast and decided to go traditional with it. My dad and I shared a Guatemalan breakfast (rice, beans, eggs, and fried banana with a few tortillas). I've spent some time in Guatemala and I can say this is as legit as it gets. The flavors are simple, and simply delicious. We also ordered a tamale, which came out warm and with a chicken drumstick inside. Note that the tamale has a bone in it, so don't chimp down too hard! The flavors were rich and comforting and reminded me of my time in Xela. It's a super casual spot with a (pretty clean) bathroom accessible by walking almost outside the back and Guatemalan flags and decor all over. We didn't get a chance to try any of the sweet breads, but it's a must for next time. Overall, exactly what I wanted and served with a smile. read more

My friend and I had a great breakfast on July 4, 2017. It was our first time there, and we found out that you can either sit at a table, which will bring a server to your table, or you can buy pastries or drinks or probably get take out from the register on the right when you walk in. We opted for a table. We were completely unfamiliar with Guatemalan food, so we needed help from our waitress. After debating for a while, we saw food walk by with a server and agreed that we'd like "that." Desayuno Chapin, which includes beans (which could be blended, maybe?) eggs cooked to oder (I recommend getting them scrambled because it comes scrambled with tomatoes and onions), platanos, rice, crema, and tortillas. I also got a warm drink the waitress suggested I try. I can't remember the name of it for the life of me, but Google tells me it might be "Avena Caliente." It was pretty much warm, drinkable, sweet oatmeal, which I could see as being very comforting, but I won't be getting it again. That Desayuno Chapin, though, it was an immediate favorite, and I can't imagine getting anything else for breakfast here. I loved getting to try a new-to-me cuisine in such a homey, no-frills environment. Our waitress answered all our questions, and I'm looking forward to coming back! I was first introduced to Xela Pan through a We Love BuHi trolley tour in the fall of 2016 where we got to sample horchata and garnachas, which was super fun. I'm so glad I've gotten to know Xela Pan a little better, I'd recommend them to everyone, and I'm looking forward to going back and trying more new things! read more

Xela Pan Cafe - A delicious and filling breakfast - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

My original plan, when I paid Xela Pan Cafe a visit, was to get some coffee and to look over their rows and rows of baked goodies. I was not at all expectng to leave out of Xela Pan with lunch....but I did! Customer service greeted me with an Hola, and they humored me while I stumbled through my not very good spanish....and also taught me how to actually say what it was I ordered, which was their Caldo, de pollo para lleva (or chicken soup to go) $10 You might scoff at the $10 price point on a bowl of soup, but this bowl was stuffed! Stuffed with ingredients AND flavors. I absolutely loved it. Inside the soup came a small ear of corn, potato halves, green leafy bits and of course, chicken, still on the bone, but very tender. Accompanying the chicken was a few tortillas, lime pieces, almost a half of an avocado and a cup of yellow rice. I did add the yellow rice to my bowl of soup, as well as the lime, but I was pretty full afterwards and never touched the tortilla. Xela Pan has the hidden in plain site feel, as it's literally right next door to Kung Fu Tea (next lot over), and not so far from Paris Baguette, so if you aren't looking for it, you just may miss it, due to what surrounds it, and also due to it being a small store in a small lot. This is a small lot but parking wasn't a problem this day. There's one entrance and exit onto Buford Highway and also wasn't a problem to get out in either direction. I haven't tried enough of Xela Pan Cafe to give it 5 stars yet, but man that soup was good! Now that I know where it is, i'll be back soon, and i'll very likely be giving them the extra star! read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Storefront - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I tried this place for the first time with my husband for breakfast. I was not sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the food. It tasted very fresh and everything had flavor to it. I had the 'desayuno chapin' and my husband had the 'desayuno especial.' I also ordered the drink, called 'avena,' which is an oatmeal drink with cinnamon. The drink is very comforting. I will visit again to try their other items. I especially want to try their hot chocolate drink! read more

Xela Pan Cafe - My husband had the desayuno especial to the left and I had the desayuno chapin on the right - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Summed up: Delicious, cheap, no frills, and perfect for what it is. We came in on a weeknight, and there was only one server, who spoke no English. We were fine, because I speak Spanish, but I could see how this might have been an issue for some people. Don't let this deter you... This place is totally worth opening up Google translate on your phone, and pointing at pictures. Ambience is nowhere to be found, but there's an outside patio, with some greenery surrounding it, and we found it to actually be really enjoyable. The food is SUPER flavorful. We ordered: Papa tamales- HUGE tamale made out of mashed, super seasoned potatoes with a chicken leg baked into it and wrapped in a banana leaf. Careful, as there was a single OMG-5-ALARM-WHY-IS-MY-ENTIRE-FACE-BURNING-pepper inside. I am a wuss, so I banished it to the land of "not going to touch this again" (ie, a spare plate). So delicious though... especially with a light drizzle of a green salsa they give you on the side. Arroz tamale- Same huge size, but made out of a sticky, chicken broth infused rice, mixed with red bell pepper and olives, with a chicken leg inside. Absolutely scrumptious. This is maybe one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth... Holy umami, Batman! I really should have tapped out after the two tamales... but we had already ordered a plethora of other items, so I proceeded to make myself uncomfortably full out of sheer determination to eat all of the deliciousness that I could. Asada taco- Good, not great. Corn tortilla was cold and a little gritty for my taste. Meat had great flavor though. Guatemalan sausage taco- Ugliest dish you've ever seen. A dark, whole sausage smacked in the middle of a tortilla with black beans poured over top. Husband said it was like chorizo, but more gamey. I was too visually traumatized to put it in my mouth. ^_^ Empanadas- The best way I could sum this up is it was like eating brothless chicken noodle soup, in an empanada. The flavoring was spot on with the best chicken noodle soup I've ever had... but instead of noodles, it was potatoes, carrots, green beans and ultra seasoned chicken. My husband's empanada was significantly more fried than mine, so his almost tasted like a corn dog. I would totally recommend these to anyone who might come here with kids, or non-adventurous eaters. They'll love these. We also ended up with a chicken plate that the server recommended... the chicken was seasoned and cooked to perfection. I was too full to really touch anything else on the plate. One of the best parts of this? The entire meal (jarritos, two dinners, and two meals to go) came to 35.00 Service was SUPER cute. She laughed with us about the absurd amount of food we ordered, and was really efficient/on point, even though she was serving the entire restaurant on her own. I will be back... again and again and again. read more

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I had the good fortune to join a bunch of friends here for lunch one day. We are a demanding bunch, but we liked this place. Xela Pan is part bakery and part restaurant. We thought the prices were very good. And while the server was sweet, and kind, and kind-of clumsy in a charming way, we found the food to be outstanding. Rule of thumb: When the waitress says something is the national speciality (Guatemala), order that. That would be the Pechuga de Pollo. This is a flattened chicken breast. Served with rice, beans, and a salad. Delicious. The churrasco is also very much a crowd pleaser. The ceviche seemed to have a little kick. And if that's not enough, there's hot sauce on the table which will make you sweat. Some of us had Chuchitos (think tamales), others had the whole, fried fish (tilapia), and still others had empanadas, quesadillas, plantains, garnachas... Everyone seemed generally happy with their meals. The kitchen is small, so if you go with a group, don't expect everyone to be served all at once. When you go, be sure to check out the bakery cabinets. But go early because things seem to sell out quickly. And if you go early, you'll find some very yummy things among their breakfast offerings. I certainly want to go back and try more things on that menu. Holler if you're coming with. read more

Visiting my family from out of town and we had breakfast here one day. The arroz tamale was my absolute favorite!! Unique and delicious. Husband liked the desayuno Chapin. Would definitely recommend read more

I keep coming here! This time I want to comment on the breads and cookies. Guatemalan dessert breads are not as sweet as NorthAmerican desserts, and they are really good with a cup of coffee. I had a "mollete" bread, a champurrada cookie and a hojaldra cookie. All very good. They also make a good cup of coffee and they have Te Chirrepeco, a tea that is hard to find in the States. Sigo comiendo aqui! Esta vez les quiero comentar acerca de sus panes y galletitas. Los panes guatemaltecos no son tan dulces como los pasteles norteamericanos, y saben ricos con una taza de cafe. Comi un mollete, una champurrada, y una hojaldra. Todos deliciosos. Tambien hacen un cafe muy bueno y tienen Te Chirrepeco, un té poco comun en los Estados. read more

Yum yum~ good chicken dishes and solid corn tamales.

I just had a chicken tamal, they also sell delicious chuchitos, if you want to try some Guatemalan food came at xela pan café read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Tamales - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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What a fantastic experience! I and the fiancé patronized Xela Pan Cafe yesterday. We both ordered the Special Breakfast with steak. I had a papaya licuado with milk and the fiancé had one with strawberries. The meal was served with freshly-made tortillas. The steak was king on that plate- thinly sliced, super flavorful, hint of lime. Eggs were fluffy and tomato-forward, went perfectly mixed with the rice. The beans were well seasoned (one hint dear cook- add a splash of vinegar while cooking to help with the gas after!). They were so busy but the wait was worth it. Will visit again to try other foods. Took one star because we wanted to order empanadas to go for lunch the next day but decided not to due to how busy they were. read more

Eating in this small, homey restaurant and bakery helped me feel like I had traveled to Guatemala. I came for breakfast and really enjoyed myself. The Desayuno Chapín was delicious. Eggs scrambled with tomatoes and onions, rice, intensely flavored beans, a couple of sweet fried plantains and a basket with warm, homemade tortillas. The restaurant has an espresso machine and I had a delicious cappuccino in a large ceramic mug. Many people stopped in for coffee and a baked good. I think the restaurant is run by a husband and wife. From what I could see I think the wife is responsible for the super tasty food. The husband told me they were hoping to have a menu soon. For now you rely on the chalkboards on the wall and pointing to the delicious choices. I can't wait to go back and try all the various tamales, chile rellenos, etc. The fresh squeezed juices sound great, too. You order at the counter and there are a number of booths for seating. read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Desayuno Chapín with Crema, a small chunk of queso and salsa verde. - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Guatemalan food is the truth! I always feel like I've stepped foot in their country although I've never been; just a warm and inviting experience. I've visited twice and enjoyed both dishes. Although the ladies in there don't speak much English, they are super patient and try to be as helpful as possible. The menu can be a bit difficult to understand but there's always a customer who is of Spanish decent that can help you translate. There aren't any prices listed for the menu items but it no more than $15. For the first visit, I ordered the grilled fish which was overwhelming but so good. Just recently, I came back to order the chicken soup and OMG! That right there is a soup! Fresh pieces of chicken, spices and a side of rice made me wanting for more. It runs you about $12 which is a little pricey but that's the price you pay for freshness. And they sell baked goods too. I paid a buck for one of those sweet rolls even though the soup comes with tortillas. My stomach was doing more of the talking on that one! read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This is a very convenient eatery near Doraville MARTA station. Easy to miss, it is just south of Asian Square, across from Dollar Tree. Guatemalan lunch counter does not really do it justice. Hand made smoothies to order, beautiful Ceviche, solid tacos. I ordered a Chuchitas (tamale) - will have to eat it at home, too full. Folksy music, television on hoy network, Guatemalan flags and soccer paraphernalia on walks, very clean - these folks take pride in this establishment, and I recommend highly. read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Chuchitas, Steak Tacos, Ceviche - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The price and the quality here is a rarity. The food is authentic. For only $20, my boyfriend and I got a decent-sized horchata, 3 tamales, a creamy chicken plate that included salad, rice, carrots, two large pieces of chicken, and a potato-like vegetable. I love that they make their drinks per every order. The horchata was freshly made and wasn't gritty like some other places make it. The tamales were PACKED with flavor. They were also a decent size. The creamy chicken plate my boyfriend had was huge. It was very creamy though, more so like a once-in-a-while type of meal. No one there speaks English, but the server was very nice and pointing did the trick. I was able to ask her which tamales were her favorite. This place is on my Top 10 Buford Highway Hole-In-The-Walls. read more

Found this gem while driving around the amazing Buford Highway. The menu is small but they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I ordered the Huevos al Gusto for breakfast and while enjoying it I almost forgot I was still in the US and not somewhere in Guatemala. They also have some Guatemalan bakery items. Customer service was friendly and I will be back! read more

Xela Pan Cafe - Huevos al gusto! - Bakeries Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This place deserves negative stars. I ordered two asada tacos and received charred meat on a tortilla. I noticed the blackened meat but decided to give it a try. After the first bite, it was obvious that the meat was inedible. The waitress politely said she would bring two fresh tacos. When they arrived, they came in the original 2 tortillas, same plate, and same limes. The cooks legit threw out the old meat and placed new meat in the existing tortillas. Beyond disgusting and definitely against food safety regulations. If food is taken back to the kitchen, that food should be thrown out and replaced. Don't waste your time or money on this place. read more

This review is for the tamales and Chuchitos. The chuchitos are similar to a Mexican tamale. They were delicious! However, I wasn't a fan of the tamales. Their tamales are cooked in banana leaves and are HUGE. It had tons of flavor but it was super mushy and wet. Maybe next time I'll try something else. read more

Had a very pleasant lunch here. Tried the arroz tamale, the papa tamale, and another wrapped item. Don't remember the name of the third one, but it is shown as a combination with the tamales. The chicken pieces in each item was tasty. The green sauce served on the side was very good, tasty without burning. Would come back to try other specialties. read more

Why only one review of this place (so far)? I checked out Xela Pan Cafeteria based on a tip that there were good Guatemalan tamales and chupitos there. I've been to this part of Buford Highway many times, most notably to Chef Liu's across the street, but I have never noticed this place...it's a small strip of about 3 or 4 businesses. Apparently, Milano bakery used to be in this spot and still shows that on Google Maps. Upon entering, I went to the counter to order, referring to a chalkboard menu on the wall. They didn't have takeout (or I was unable to communicate that I wanted takeout...not sure), so after ordering a mango smoothie, a tamale/paches with rice, and a chuchito, I sat down at one of the handful of tables in the casual cafe-style setting. There were two wall mounted televisions that had a soccer match playing- the other patrons looked like they were having a great time eating, conversing and watching the match. The cashier was also the server...she was so patient with my horrible Spanish language non-skills (I only know a few words so I relied on pointing and the names of the food). She brought my food over to the table with a container of green chili sauce, following up later with the mango smoothie. The portions were very large...there were whole chicken wings inside both the tamale and chuchito-great flavor and so delicious! The tamale is actually rice wrapped in leaves, and the chuchito is more like the tamales I've eaten in the past, masa wrapped in a corn husk. Even though I was starving, I couldn't finish the gigantic portions of food. The server brought over the check (under $8!) and I paid for it at the cash register. Fantastic value...looking forward to returning to try the ceviche, tacos, and other menu items. read more

I grew up with this style of pastry! Stuff so dry you have to have coffee with it to soak it or a coca to wash it down. Really, or you'll choke. Still... I love it!!! It's all really floury and topped with sugar. Not much more to it. We also had the pechuga de pollo with corn (handmade) tortillas. So good! Just fyi, its chicken breast thats been flattened and grilled, with the right amount of seasoning. On the side salad with rice and refried beans. Did I mention it was clean and inviting environment! Next time we are hitting them up for some Bfast. They have empanadas. In my country quequitos. You beg your mom to make those! Bien hecho Xela pan! We hope you stay in business for a long time. read more

I've been on a hiatus when it comes to writing reviews for a while now but I felt a place like this deserves the most attention it can get. Although I don't have many followers on here, I'm hoping the couple of them that do see this will visit and tell their followers about it and so on and so on. This small place on Burford Highway can be very easily missed; i mean I missed it trying to get there and had to drive back again to spot it lol, anyway came here with my friend Ravi on Monday night for dinner, we can be very indecisive about our food but the server was super patient with us and luckily spoke Spanish and English like me also, made it much easier for me to explain the food to Ravi. We chose a few things on the menu to try out: empanadas de carne which were amazing, also tamales or chuchitos as they call them which I have never liked from any country or my own family for that matter and my mind wasn't changed this time either, but that doesn't mean they are not good because Ravi liked them; its just my personal taste bud. We also got pechuga a la plancha con arroz y frijoles negros which was off the chain, and lastly a quesadilla with chorizo which was also delicious. All in all we were very satisfied with our dinner that night and would love to come back to try their breakfast in the morning and any other plates they have. So I highly recommend it, please give it a shot, and tell more people about them cause small places like these deserve more attention than the bigger ones everyone already knows. read more

I can't believe this place only has 5 reviews! It has been open for a year and it's a hidden gem. There are so many great places on Buford Highway that some of them don't get the spotlight that they deserve. My friend Jonathan and I like to try different Latin cuisines. Last week we went to Las Delicias de la Abuela which was more columbian. This time we went to Guatemala. We tried their well known pechuga de pollo which is a flattened chicken breast. It comes with rice, beans, and salad. It's an awesome meal! It also came with corn tortillas. Everything was fresh and authentic and they have hot sauces available if you think it is not spicy enough. We also tried tamales/chuchitos. A chuchito is just the tamale of guatemala. It is made in a similar way. They told me mexican tamales tend to be spicier with the chile. Ours had potato and chicken. You have to be a little careful though because there are bones in the tamale. It is really spicy. Their empandas are also great and authentic! They have potato and meat. And we got the chorizo quesidilla, which was pretty great and not too spicy. We also tried some guatemalan candies afterwards. They are really rich so I would recommend just get one of them. We got a coconut one, a tri-colored one, and a caramel one. I liked the coconut one the best. All were super sugary and rich though. They also have coffee and juices but it was night time so I'll have to come back for that. The staff was telling me they also serve breakfast in the morning until 11, so I would definitely want to try that. Also, service was excellent! The staff did a great job of explaining every little thing to me since I had so many questions about their menu. They didn't have any prices on the board, but sharing 2 empanadas, 1 quesidilla, 2 tamales, the pechuga de pollo plate, 2 jarritos drinks, and 3 of the candies, it came out to around $34. read more

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Really simple restaurant with good affordable prices. Great breakfast that is very filling and yummy!! read more

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Quintessential Buford Highway! Small place with some great food. If it bugs you being the only white person in the place better go to Buckhead. I was coming down with a cold and needed chicken soup. Living 5 minutes from Buford Highway the immediate dilemma was Asian or Latino. Since my wife is Asian we've had just about every bowl of noodle soup (pick your nationality) that can be found. I had tried to get into Xela Pan a few months ago at 630 AM for a cup of coffee and the line was out the door. This is a very good sign. Yelpers had posted pictures of the chicken soup so off I went. 10 AM and a short line. The friendly girl at the counter checked with the kitchen and I was in luck. Also I got some excellent and pulpy mango juice to go with the soup. Soup came out to my table. The hallmark of a great soup is the broth. I had a spoonful of broth. #$%% that's good! Then I started thinking about my grandmother. After the euphoric high of that first taste wore off I dug around. Bone-in chicken, corn-on-the-cob, potato, squash, carrot were floating around in that rich and flavorful broth. There are a couple of pictures of this soup on Yelp. One of the pictures is in the Webster dictionary next to the term "chicken soup" so everyone will know what a real bowl looks like. Driving home I realized my cold was going away, but now I missed grandma. read more